SB FILE / 2006
Julian Sensley is working out with the Hawaii Hurricanes.

Sensley working out with ABA Hurricanes

STORY SUMMARY »

Former University of Hawaii forward Julian Sensley has fond memories playing under Alika Smith.

He seems willing to try another go-around.

Sensley, who played for Smith (then an assistant coach at UH) his senior season, is among the final contenders for the roster of the new local American Basketball Association franchise, the Hawaii Hurricanes.

"When I found out Alika was doing the job (I came to try out)," Sensley said yesterday. "I think he did a good job, and (can) help put Hawaii on the map professionally."

Julian Sensley's basketball career in Hawaii may not be done just yet.

The former University of Hawaii standout, who played his last season in 2005-06, has been working out with Hawaii's new American Basketball Association franchise.

Selecting Sensley for the team's final roster may be a no-brainer for Hurricanes coach Alika Smith, but the 6-foot-9 first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection from 2006 isn't a lock. The final cut from 17 players to 12 will be made by next Wednesday, the first official day of practice.

"He wants to play. He's taking it very seriously, which is a good thing," Smith said. "It's a sense of finalizing everything."

Sensley, who joins Deonte Tatum, Jason Carter and John Wilder as former UH players on the team's current roster, is cautiously optimistic about joining up.

"Right now I'm going through the process of trying to get my feet wet and see where I stand on this team," Sensley said. "I have some other options on the table right now, and kind of just playing it by ear."

He mentioned the NBA's developmental league as another option.

Carter shot around with Sensley and about five other prospects last night at the Kalaheo gym, where both Smith and Sensley played in high school.

The presence of a marquee player is comforting to Carter, who saw firsthand what can happen to an unorganized semi-pro team. He played for the Hawaii Mega Force -- also of the ABA -- two years ago before the team quickly folded. Having the games at an established venue (the Blaisdell Arena) is a plus, he said.

"Oh, it's a lot more organized," Carter said. "I think it's going to bring a lot of fans out (having Sensley around). I played with him at UH, and it brought a lot of fans out there too. There's some other local people here that can bring a crowd, too. I think having people like that on the team, makes it better for the fans to come out and watch."

Former Chaminade standout Chris Reeves and Rashaun Broadus, a former player at Waianae, Mililani and BYU, are also getting good looks.

The thought of playing again locally is an appealing one to Sensley. His last action came as a reserve on the German national team.

"I understand it's going to be a little slow," Sensley said with a grin. "This isn't an NBA team or anything. I just hope people come out and give us a chance, see what this is about. I think people will recognize a lot of the players, a couple ex-UH players, a couple ex-Hawaii high school standouts. I think it'll be an exciting thing if people believe in us."